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Is Alexandria Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, August 8, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Alexandria?

Yes, Alexandria's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Alexandria has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Alexandria's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Alexandria's water utility, City of Alexandria, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the City of Alexandria water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Alexandria Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Alexandria tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Alexandria's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Alexandria Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Alexandria for Alexandria in Virginia. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

Is there Lead in Alexandria Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Alexandria water system, City of Alexandria, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Alexandria water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Alexandria contained more lead.

While Alexandria water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Alexandria Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - WASHINGTON DC NRL - near Alexandria with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Alexandria has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Alexandria Water - Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE WE DOING?
Our priority is to provide reliable, quality drinking water service for customers. The source of supply is an important part of that mission. We work to understand and reduce potential risks to your drinking water supply. Here are a few of the efforts underway to protect our shared water resources: Community Involvement: We have a proactive public outreach program to help spread the word and get people involved. This includes school education, contests, and other community activities. Environmental Grant Program: Each year, we fund projects that improve water resources in our local communities.
HOW DO I CONTACT ALEXANDRIA CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Alexandria water provider, City of Alexandria, please use the information below.
By Mail: 2223 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their City of Alexandria account to pay their Alexandria water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your City of Alexandria bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Alexandria water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Alexandria water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP ALEXANDRIA WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Alexandria means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Alexandria. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Alexandria means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Alexandria. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

Is Alexandria Tap Water Safe to Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$2.26 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Alexandria tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 13% Very Low
  • Water Pollution 46% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 87% Very High
  • Water Quality 54% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Alexandria, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Alexandria Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Alexandria's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

2020 Annual

ALEXANDRIA

PWS ID: VA6510010

A message from Virginia American Water’s President

Barry Suits

President, Virginia American Water

.

Dear Virginia American Water Customer,

Having access to safe, reliable water service is something that can be easily taken for granted. At Virginia American Water, it’s our top priority.

I am pleased to share with you our 2020 Consumer Confidence Report. As you read through this water quality information, you will see that we continue to supply high quality drinking water service. Our water is regularly tested and monitored to confirm compliance with state and federal guidelines. In fact, American Water's water quality professionals and treatment plant operators regularly test for about 100 regulated contaminants. Each Spring, we publish those results from the entire year prior in this annual water quality report.

Our plant operators, water quality experts, engineers and maintenance crews work diligently to protect our water supplies and provide our communities with safe, clean tap water. Delivering reliable water service to your tap also requires significant investment in our water infrastructure. In 2020 alone, we invested more than $44 million in water system improvements statewide.

Our job is to provide quality water service not only today, but well into the future. It’s part of our commitment to you and the communities we serve. We hope you agree that your water quality is worth every penny, and worth learning more about.

From meeting state and federal drinking water standards or investing millions each year to upgrade our infrastructure, our employees are dedicated to serving you. We are proud to be your local water service provider and thank you for allowing us the privilege to serve you.

Sincerely,

Barry L. Suits, P.E.

President

Virginia American Water

This report contains important information about your drinking water. Translate it or speak with someone who understands it at

  1. (800) 452-6863, Monday-Friday,
  1. a.m. to 7 p.m.

2

Once again, we proudly present our Annual Water Quality Report, also referred to as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). CCRs let consumers know what contaminants, if any, were detected in their drinking water as well as related potential health effects. CCRs also include details about where your water comes from and how it is treated. Additionally, they educate customers on what it takes to deliver safe drinking water and highlight the need to protect drinking water sources.

Virginia American Water is committed to delivering high quality drinking water service. To that end, we remain vigilant in meeting the challenges of source water protection, water conservation, environmental compliance, sustainability and community education while continuing to serve the needs of all our water users.

A message from our President

2

What is a Consumer Confidence Report

3

Mark of Excellence

4

About Your Drinking Water Supply

5

What are the Sources of Contaminants?

6

Protecting Your Drinking Water Supply

7

About Lead

8

Important Information About Your Water

9-10

UCMR

 

Chloramines

 

Fluoride

 

Cryptosporidium

 

Sodium

 

Water Quality Results

11

Definitions of Terms Used in Document

12

Water Quality Results: Detailed Charts

13-17

About Us

18

Contact Us

19

3

Just as Virginia American Water is investing in research and testing, we also understand the importance of investing in the infrastructure that provides high-quality water service to you. Last year alone, we invested more than $44 million to improve our water treatment and pipeline systems.

4

WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM

Virginia American Water, Alexandria District is classified as a consecutive water system. Your drinking water comes from two surface water treatment plants owned and operated by Fairfax Water. The J. J. Corbalis Water Treatment Plant is located on the Potomac River. The Griffith Plant is at the Occoquan Reservoir. To learn more about our watershed on the Internet, go to USEPA’s Search Your Watershed at https://mywaterway.epa.gov/.

Why does my water sometimes have a chlorine taste and odor?

During the months of April, May, and June, you may notice the taste and odor of chlorine in your water. Every year, during this time, Fairfax Water uses free chlorine instead of the less noticeable combined chlorine (chloramines) as a disinfectant during distribution system flushing. Free chlorine is used during the water main flushing program done each year to maintain a high level of water quality.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE FORT LEE SYSTEM

Communities served:

Alexandria

Water source:

Fairfax Water Griffith Plant- Occoquan Reservoir

Fairfax Water J.J. Corbalis Plant- Potomac River

Average amount of water supplied to customers on a daily basis:

15.5 million gallons per day

Disinfection treatment: Surface water supplies are treated with chloramines to maintain water quality in the distribution system.

5

6

Report any spills, illegal dumping or suspicious activity to VDEQ Pollution Response Program (PREP) here: (703) 583-3800.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about your water supply and local activities, visit us online at https://www.amwater.com/vaaw/ or contact the regional Source Water Protection Lead, Ayite Amegnikin, at 1-800- 452-6863.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

Our priority is to provide reliable, quality drinking water service for customers. The source of supply is an important part of that mission. We work to understand and reduce potential risks to your drinking water supply.

Here are a few of the efforts underway to protect our shared water resources:

Community Involvement: We have a proactive public outreach program to help spread the word and get people involved. This includes school education, contests, and

other community activities. Environmental Grant Program: Each year, we fund projects that improve water resources in our local communities.

7

CHECK YOUR PLUMBING AND SERVICE LINE

If you live in an older home, consider having a licensed plumber check your plumbing for lead. If your service line is made of lead, and you’re planning to replace it, be sure to contact us at 1-800-452-6863.

8

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING RULE (UCMR)

The EPA created the Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to assist them in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether new regulations are warranted. The first Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule (UCMR1) testing was completed in 2003 for a list of contaminants specified by the EPA.

Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. UCMR2 testing was conducted between November 2008 and August 2009, and UCMR3 assessment monitoring was conducted between January 2013 and December 2016. The fourth list of contaminants to monitor as part of the UCMR was published by the EPA in December 2016. UCMR4 testing began in 2018 and was completed in 2020.

The results from the UCMR monitoring are reported directly to the EPA. The results of this monitoring are incorporated in the data tables in this report as appropriate. For more information, contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800- 452-6863.

CHLORAMINES

Chloramines are a Virginia and federally-approved alternative to free chlorine for water disinfection. Chloramines can reduce disinfection by-product formation and may help reduce concerns related to taste. Chloramines are also used by many American Water systems and many other water utilities nationally.

Chloramines have the same effect as chlorine for typical water uses with the exception that chloramines must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis and fish tanks or aquariums.

Treatments to remove chloramines are different than treatments for removing chlorine. Please contact your physician or dialysis specialist for questions pertaining to kidney dialysis water treatment. Contact your pet store or veterinarian for questions regarding water used for fish and other aquatic life. You may also contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-452-6863 for more chloramine information.

FLUORIDE

Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance. It can be present in drinking water from two sources:

1. By nature when groundwater comes into contact with fluoride-containing minerals naturally present in the earth; or

2. By a water purveyor through addition of fluoride to the water they are providing in the distribution system.

Fairfax Water adds fluoride to achieve an optimal

 

fluoride level of 0.7 parts per million (ppm).

 

If you have any questions on fluoride, please call

 

Virginia American Water’s Customer Service Center

 

at (800) 452-6863.

9

 

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM

Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water throughout the U.S. Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most commonly-used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100 percent removal. Our monitoring indicates the presence of these organisms in our source water and/or finished water. Current test methods do not allow us to determine if the organisms are dead or if they are capable of causing disease. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal infection. Symptoms of infection include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most healthy individuals can overcome the disease within a few weeks. However, immuno-compromised people, infants and small children, and the elderly are at greater risk of developing life-threatening illness. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult their doctor regarding appropriate precautions to take to avoid infection. Cryptosporidium must be ingested to cause disease, and it may be spread through means other than drinking water.

SODIUM

Sodium was detected in your drinking water. There is presently no established standard for sodium in drinking

water. Drinking water does not play a significant role in sodium exposure for most individuals. Those that are under treatment for sodium-sensitive hypertension should consult with their health care provider regarding sodium levels in their drinking water supply and the advisability of using an alternative water source or point-of-use treatment to reduce the sodium. For individuals on a very low sodium diet (500mg/day), the EPA recommends that drinking water sodium not exceed 20 mg/L.

10

WATER QUALITY STATEMENT

 

We are pleased to report that during calendar

 

year 2020, the results of testing of your drinking

 

water complied with all state and federal drinking

 

water requirements.

 

For your information, we have compiled a list in

 

the table below showing the testing of your

 

drinking water during 2020. The Virginia

 

Department of Health allows us to monitor for

 

some contaminants less than once per year

 

because the concentration of the contaminants

 

does not change frequently. Some of our data,

 

though representative, are more than one year

 

old.

 

Why does my water sometimes have a

 

chlorine taste and odor?

 

During the months of April, May, and June, you

 

may notice the taste and odor of chlorine in your

 

water. Every year, during this time, Virginia

 

American Water uses free chlorine instead of the

 

less noticeable combined chlorine (chloramines)

 

as a disinfectant during distribution system

 

flushing. Free chlorine is used during the water

 

main flushing program done each year to

 

maintain a high level of water quality.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

This CCR was prepared by K. Ryan, Water Quality

 

Supervisor. If you have questions about this

 

report, you want additional information about

 

your drinking water, or want to know how to

 

participate in local activities that may help protect

 

the quality of your drinking water, please contact:

 

K. Ryan, Water Quality Supervisor, email:

11

Kelly.ryan@amwater.com

 

12

Virginia American Water conducts extensive monitoring to determine if your water meets all water quality standards. The detections of our monitoring are reported in the following tables. While most monitoring was conducted in 2020, certain substances are monitored less than once per year because the levels do not change frequently. For help with interpreting the tables below, see the “Definition of Terms” on the previous page. Some unregulated substances are measured, but maximum contaminant levels have not been established by the government. These contaminants are shown for your information.

NOTE: Regulated contaminants not listed in this table were not found in the treated water supply.

LEAD AND COPPER MONITORING PROGRAM - At least 50 tap water samples collected at customers’ taps every 3 years

Substance

Year Sampled

Compliance

MCLG

Action Level

90th Percentile

No. of Homes

Homes Above

Typical Source

(with units)

Achieved

(AL)

Sampled

Action Level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead (ppb)

2019

Yes

0

15

<1

51

0

Corrosion of household plumbing systems

Copper (ppm)

2019

Yes

1.3

1.3

0.114

51

0

Corrosion of household plumbing systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COLIFORM RULE - At least 120 samples collected each month in the distribution system

Substance

Year Sampled

Compliance

MCLG

MCL

Highest Percentage OR Highest

Typical Source

Achieved

No. of Samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*MCL = Less than 5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

OR

 

 

Total Coliform

2020

Yes

0

MCL = No more than

0

Naturally present in the environment

 

 

 

 

1 positive monthly

 

 

 

 

 

 

sample

 

 

E. Coli

2020

Yes

0

TT = No confirmed

0

Human and animal fecal waste

samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator of the general bacteriological quality of the water. We are reporting the highest percentage of positive samples / highest number of positive samples in any month.

13

DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS - Collected in the Distribution System

Substance

Year

Compliance

MCLG

MCL

Highest

Range

Typical Source

(with units)

Sampled

Achieved

Compliance Result

Detected

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trihalomethanes

2020

Yes

NA

80

22.3

5.8 to 37.4

By-product of drinking water disinfection

(TTHMs) (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haloacetic Acids

2020

Yes

NA

60

15.1

2.4 to 22.9

By-product of drinking water disinfection

(HAAs) (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Compliance is based on the running annual average at each location. The Highest Compliance Result reflects the highest average at any location and the Range Detected reflects all samples from this year used to calculate the running annual average.

DISINFECTANTS - Collected in the Distribution System

Substance

Year

Compliance

MRDLG

MRDL

Chlorine Residual

Range

Typical Source

(with units)

Sampled

Achieved

Detected

 

 

 

 

Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

System Chlorine

2020

Yes

4

4

3.0

0.7 to 3.7

Water additive used to control microbes

Residual (ppm)1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1- Data represents the highest monthly average of chlorine residuals measured throughout our distribution system.

TREATMENT BYPRODUCTS PRECURSOR REMOVAL - Collected at both Treatment Plants

Substance

Year

Compliance

 

 

Quarterly

 

Number of

 

MCLG

MCL

Running Annual

Range

Quarters Out of

Typical Source

 

Sampled

Achieved

 

 

 

Average

 

Compliance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Organic

2020

Yes

NA

TT

1.3

1.0 to 1.6

0

Naturally present in the environment.

Carbon (TOC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A value greater than or equal to 1.0 indicates that the water system is in compliance with TOC removal requirements.

 

 

TURBIDITY - Continuous Monitoring at both Treatment Plants

Substance

 

Compliance

 

 

Highest Single Measurement and

 

Year Sampled

MCLG

MCL

Lowest Monthly % of Samples <0.3

Typical Source

(with units)

Achieved

 

 

 

NTU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

0

TT: Single result >1 NTU

0.28

Soil runoff

Turbidity (NTU)

2020

Yes

NA

TT: At least 95% of samples

100%

Soil runoff

 

 

 

 

<0.3 NTU

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

REGULATED SUBSTANCES - Collected at the Treatment Plant

Substance

Year

Compliance

MCLG

MCL/SMCL

Highest

Range Detected

Typical Source

(with units)

Sampled

Achieved

Compliance Result

 

 

 

 

Beta / Photon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019

Yes

0

50

4.78

ND to 4.78

Decay of natural and synthetic deposits

emitters (pCi/L)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrate (ppm)

2020

Yes

10

10

1.45

0.57 to 1.45

Runoff from fertilizer use; industrial or domestic

wastewater discharges; erosion of natural deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluoride (ppm)

2020

Yes

4

4

0.8

0.1 to 0.8

Added to water to promote healthy teeth

Barium (ppm)

2020

Yes

2

2

0.042

0.026 to 0.042

Erosion of natural deposits, discharge of drilling waste and

metal refineries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrite (ppm)

2020

Yes

1

1

0.013

ND to 0.013

Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks,

sewage, erosion of natural deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits, runoff from road deicing

Sodium (ppm)1

2020

Yes

NA

NA

27.8

9.2 to 27.8

chemicals, discharge from industrial sources, wastewater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

treatment plant effluent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1- For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the recommended upper limit may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet. There are no State or Federal limits established for this parameter.

15

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING

Unregulated contaminants are those for which the EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist the EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is necessary. Every five years, the EPA issues a new list of no more than 30 unregulated contaminants to be monitored.

ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS OF INTEREST - Water from the Distribution System

Parameter

Units

Year Sampled

Highest Result

Range Detected

Typical Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bromide

ppb

2020

0.02

ND to 0.02

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Bromochloracetic Acid

ppb

2020

3.5

1.1 to 3.5

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Bromodichloroacetic Acid

ppb

2020

5.2

0.67 to 5.2

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Bromodichloromethane

ppb

2020

6.8

2.0 to 6.8

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Chlorate

ppb

2020

0.46

ND to 4.6

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Chlorodibromoacetic Acid

ppb

2020

2.1

0.53 to 2.1

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Chloroform

ppb

2020

29.6

2.2 to 29.6

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Dibromoacetic Acid

ppm

2020

1.2

ND to 1.2

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Dibromochloromethane

ppm

2020

3.5

0.7 to 3.5

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Dichloroacetic Acid

ppm

2020

10.1

2.4 to 10.1

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Total Haloacetic Acids UCMR4

ppm

2020

33

6.1 to 33.0

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Total Haloacetic Acids- Br

ppm

2020

10

2.6 to 10

By-product of drinking water disinfection

Trichloroacetic Acid

ppm

2020

13.4

ND to 13.4

By-product of drinking water disinfection

 

 

 

 

 

 

pH

S.U.

2020

8.0

7.2 to 8.0

Measure of the acid / base properties of water

Total Hardness

ppm

2020

124

60 to 124

Natural calcium / magnesium content in the water

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Alkalinity

ppm

2020

90

44 to 90

Ability of water to neutralize acid and bases and maintain a stable pH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manganese

ppb

2020

1.3

0.67 to 1.3

Erosion of naturally occurring deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

1- For healthy individuals, the sodium intake from water is not important because a much greater intake of sodium takes place from salt in the diet. However, sodium levels above the recommended upper limit may be of concern to individuals on a sodium restricted diet.

ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS OF INTEREST - Water from the Treatment Plant before treatment

 

 

Mean

 

 

Source (before treatment)

Year Sampled

Cryptosporidium

Final Bin Assignment under LT2ESWTR Round 2

concentration

 

 

 

 

 

 

(oocysts/Liter)

 

 

Potomac River

2015 to 2017

0.000

Bin 1 (no additional treatment required)

Occoquan Reservoir

2015 to 2017

0.007

Bin 1 (no additional treatment required)

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES

PFAS refers to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of synthetic chemicals, manufactured for industrial applications and commercial household products such as: non-stick cookware; waterproof and stain resistant fabrics and carpets; firefighting foam and cleaning products. The properties that make these chemicals useful in so many of our every-day products also resist breaking down and therefore persist in the environment. Exposure may be from food, food packaging, consumer products, house dust, indoor and outdoor air, drinking water and at workplaces where PFAS are made or used.

Virginia American Water is currently performing voluntary sampling to better understand certain occurrence of PFAS levels in drinking water sources. This testing allows us to understand how our water compares against the non-enforceable Health Advisory Level set by USEPA of 70 nanograms per liter or parts per trillion

for a combination of two PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS. Testing also allows Virginia American Water to be better prepared if the USEPA or state environmental regulator develop a drinking water standard for those PFAS for which we have USEPA approved testing methods.

The science and regulation of PFAS and other contaminants is always evolving, and Virginia American Water strives to be a leader in research and

development. PFAS contamination is one of the most rapidly changing areas in the drinking water field. We have invested in our own independent research, as well as engaging with other experts in the field to understand PFAS occurrence in the environment. We are also actively assessing treatment technologies that can effectively remove PFAS from drinking water, because we believe that investment in research is critically important to addressing this issue.

UNREGULATED PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS

Parameter

Units

Average Result

Range Detected

Typical Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Used for its emulsifier and surfactant properties in or as fluoropolymers (such as

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

ppt

ND

NA

Teflon), fire fighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives

 

 

 

 

and photographic films

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS)

ppt

ND

NA

Synthetic chemical; used in products for stain, grease, heat and water resistance

 

 

 

 

 

17

18

WATER INFORMATION SOURCES

Virginia American Water

www.amwater.com/vaaw

Virginia Department of Health:

www.vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality: www.deq.state.va.us

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA): www.epa.gov/safewater

Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1 (800) 426-4791

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov

American Water Works Association: www.awwa.org

Water Quality Association: www.wqa.org

National Library of Medicine/National Institute of Health: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater.html

19

Contaminants


City of Alexandria

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Drinking Water, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 146970
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Purchased surface water
  • Total: 29

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Bromate*
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Chloroform
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Nitrate*
  • Nitrate and nitrite*
  • Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)*
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Aluminum*
  • Atrazine*
  • Barium*
  • Bromide*
  • Bromochloroacetic acid
  • Bromoform
  • Chlorate
  • Chromium (total)
  • Dibromoacetic acid
  • Fluoride*
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Molybdenum
  • Monobromoacetic acid
  • Monochloroacetic acid
  • Nitrite*
  • Strontium
  • Tritium*
  • Vanadium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

Alexandria Tap Water

If you have been shopping around and researching for your new home, one of the biggest questions that you may have is, “What’s so bad about drinking Alexandria Virginia tap water?” The short answer to that question is not a lot. Sure, there are many things that you don’t want to invest in when you are swimming or showering. Still, the reality of the situation is that most of the things that you will put in your mouth will be fine so long as you don’t mix them with other things, such as some of the imported bottled water that makes its way into the Capital Region. If you are looking for an excellent water source, you really should not pay much attention to what the local vendors say.

Tap water from Alexandria, Virginia, is suitable for two reasons; the first is that it is a very reliable source. The pipes used to supply this water are among the best found anywhere, and they work just like they should because they are constructed to resist a large amount of pressure. This means you can use this water without worrying about getting any piping in your mouth or nose burned. You don’t have to worry about getting any metallic taste from your water either.

The second reason why you should consider drinking bottled water is that it is pretty affordable. It is not uncommon for people in this area to spend around twenty dollars a month on a good brand of bottled water, which is much more than you would spend on a case of beer at the bar! Not only is this a great way to save money in these tough economic times, but it is also a healthier option. Drinking tap water is far from an ideal choice.

Alexandria Virginia Drinking Water

Alexandria is the capital city of Prince William County in Virginia. It is a central metropolitan area with lots of significant corporations and businesses in it. If you are looking for good quality drinking water, then it’s a great town to be in. You have the largest water treatment plant in the entire world and one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the nation. That means that the water coming into the town will always be of some of the best quality around.

The drinking water at the treatment plant is filtered to ensure that the quality is good and then sent on to different distribution points. The distribution points are where the drinking water will go before being distributed throughout the city of Alexandria. So even if you live out in the country, there is no reason that you can’t have access to good quality drinking water.

There are several different water purification systems that you could choose from. You can get a simple faucet mount system or have a whole house filter system installed. Either way, it will be a good investment for your home and ensure that you and your family are getting clean water. The drinking water supply is also tested regularly to make sure that it is still clean and healthy. So even if you live out in the country, it doesn’t matter. You can have clean, good drinking water right in the comfort of your own home.

Alexandria Virginia Water Quality

It may not be a surprise to most people that Alexandria is among the list of cities with poor water quality. The reason for this is that the city has been suffering from many contaminants since its beginnings. However, suppose you are looking for pure drinking water. In that case, you won’t be disappointed because there are still many cities with excellent water quality in the world. If you want to have clean water all year round, you must have this water source for your personal use and consumption. If you have a family or a group of people living with you, then you cannot avoid having a good drinking water supply in the house.

Alexandria is one of the suburbs of Washington DC, so the water supply for this city will differ from the one for other places. Despite this, there are still some everyday things that you can expect from this city’s water quality. Aside from the fact that there are pollutants everywhere, the supply still contains microorganisms and minerals, which are healthy to some extent but not enough to be called pure. The only way to make this type of water truly refined is by boiling or using chemicals when you drink it.

You might think that using such chemicals to make your water pure would be dangerous. Still, the truth is that it is only slightly hazardous, and you will not get any adverse effects. If you want to enjoy the benefits of having pure water all year round, all you need to do is buy an excellent supply filter. Once you have this filter, you will no longer have to worry about experiencing water purification problems in your city. Suppose you want to share a high quality of drinking water. In that case, you can have this with a bit of investment from a reliable water purification company.

Alexandria Virginia Water Quality Report

The city of Alexandria, Virginia, is one that everyone should check out. You will find that this is one city that has all the best amenities in the world. The best thing about living in Alexandria, Virginia, is that you will be able to get your groceries delivered and also have room to relax at one of the many fine restaurants that are located here. If you are looking for a nice place to have dinner or even a lovely quiet evening, you can find that at one of the many fine-dining places in the area. In addition to all of the excellent restaurants, you will find that the water quality coming into your home is second to none.

The reason that the town of Alexandria gets its water from the Potomac River runs right through the heart of the city. The city uses this water to help filter out all of the pollutants in the water that the river contains. Three primary water plants provide this purified water to all of the residents. When checking out the Alexandria Virginia water quality report, you will find out that the main plant is one of the oldest in the area and has provided quality water to the city’s people for over thirty years. This plant has been supplying such great water because of all of the filtration that they use to make it.

In addition to all of this, you will find that the natural water quality that comes into your home is also good. There are not many things that you will be able to see in the water that is not good for you to drink. You should be able to find clean water that tastes good as well. By checking out the report from the town of Alexandria, you will see that this is a good place for you to move to and live for a long time.

Alexandria Virginia Water Treatment

Alexandria, Virginia, is the capital of Virginia. It is known for its beautiful lawns, rich culture, fine dining, and many other tourist attractions. However, one of the best things about living in this gorgeous city is the many public water treatment facilities that make up the city’s drinking water supply. Water is treated by chlorination and then sent to homes, businesses, and offices through local public suppliers.

Most of these public providers use chloramine, which is a by-product of chlorination. Chloramine is used as a bubbling agent, so it breaks down into more minor compounds that do not trigger any harmful side effects when it comes in contact with water. This makes chlorine an expensive product to buy and to use in your home or business. However, suppose a public provider service you. In that case, you can be confident that what you are getting is a safe, healthy option for drinking.

If a treatment center services you, there are many options available to you. One of the best ways to get chlorinated water at an affordable price is to use a water filtering system. These systems work to remove chlorine and many other dangerous contaminants that you find in publicly treated water. The result is a quality of water that is good for drinking and keeps you far from having to spend your hard-earned money on pricey, bottled water!

Water in Alexandria Virginia

What is so good about drinking water in Alexandria, Virginia? The city is home to many different water sources, including the city’s main water supply, which comes from a natural water reservoir just north of town. Although there are many other sources of water for residents to use, this is the city’s primary source of clean water. There is also a great deal of local government water distribution that can be used on a much smaller scale.

People do not tend to realize that when they are looking for new drinking water in Alexandria, Virginia, there is a lot more to the water than meets the eye. The water from the reservoir runs through several filtration steps before it makes it to your faucet. After that, it goes through a different process that removes any sediment or unwanted chemicals from it. Then the water is bottled and distributed by the city’s water company.

Bottled water in Alexandria, Virginia, can be an excellent option for a lot of people. Not only are there many advantages to using bottled water over regular tap water, but it is also a healthier choice because you know exactly where your water came from. While it may be a little more expensive than most homes are used to drinking regular water from, it will always be free of any harmful chemicals that could harm you or your family. It is always important to check with your city to determine if additional filtration methods or bottled water delivery services can be added. Then you can enjoy sipping a nice cool glass of water in a comfortable place at all times during the day.

Alexandria Virginia Water Utility

If you own a home in Alexandria, Virginia, you should have a good water utility company servicing your area. It is a good idea to get a list of all the companies that serve Alexandria before you start searching for one that can offer you the best service. Some people live in an area where the water utility company they choose does not live, so it is essential to make sure that you get your water service. The service areas and service fees vary widely from place to place, depending on the type of service you want and whether or not you get one-hour service, emergency service, or some other kind of emergency service. Once you have a list of all the service companies that serve Alexandria, you can find out who has the best deals and prices on water service in the area that you live.

Once you have a list of all the water utility companies that serve Alexandria, you can search their websites and call them to find more information about their services. There are often online forms that you can fill out to get a quote on your water consumption. This will help you compare prices between the different water utility companies in your area, so you can choose the one that offers you the best rates for your water consumption.

It is easy to understand why you need to have a good water utility company if you live in an area where there are frequent power outages or blackouts. You may be able to save a lot of money by having the service company come out regularly to repair the damage to your appliances and plumbing. Even if you only have a small amount of water consumption, you could end up saving a lot of money on your monthly water bill. Suppose you live in an area where the power goes out frequently. In that case, you should consider contacting a reliable water utility company to help you conserve water since this will help you save on the amount of water you use.

Alexandria Virginia Water Treatment Plants

One of the most extensive water treatment facilities in the United States, Alexandria, Virginia, water treatment plants treats a large portion of the area’s water supply. They are also one of the most respected, with their state-of-the-art treatment plant and a high-tech and efficient reputation. The water they treat is used to help make Washington, D.C., and much of Maryland’s capital city drinkable and healthy. The water is treated using one of three methods; ion exchange, carbon filtration, or a combination of both.

These water treatment plants process the water going into the city of Alexandria in different ways. They use other methods to rid the water of unwanted chemicals like chlorine, sediments, and iron. They also take out particles that are too small to be visible but can be dangerous in large doses. The carbon filters in the ion exchange systems filter out more significant compounds like lead and aluminum. In the ion exchange method, the water is exchanged with oxygen in a process called electrolysis.

When drinking tap water in the District of Columbia, you should always use a water treatment system. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Our drinking water contains so many chemicals, and it’s essential to use a water purification system to remove these harmful substances from our water. Alexandria is one city in the District of Columbia that has committed to clean drinking water. This means that all of the water that makes it to the General Services Administration site, the water storage and distribution area for the city, will be filtered and ionized. If you want the healthiest water in town, you need to make sure that your drinking water is properly purified.

Alexandria Virginia Safe Drinking Water

Alexandria, Virginia, is home to many things, including famous universities like the University of Virginia and George Washington University. Along with all the colleges come a lot of people with offices there or have been established there for a long time. Alexandria is also a large city and has a lot of business going on. That is why the city of Alexandria needs to have safe drinking water stations put in place.

Alexandria is home to some of the best water stations that can give you the water you need. This includes stations that can provide you bottled water and other types of water like ice water and spring water. Some stations can give you water from your kitchen faucet that can help you make sure that you do not run out of your favorite drink while you are out at work or on the weekend. The water supplied to all these different locations will be tested to ensure that it is clean and pure before it is delivered to your home, so you do not ever end up getting sick from using unsafe drinking water stations.

Water is something that everyone should have access to, and Alexandria is a great city that realizes that. They have drinking water stations throughout the city. They have the latest technology to ensure that the water that comes out of their tap is of the best quality possible. When you are thirsty, you want to know that the water you are drinking is clean and pure, and with this type of technology, you can be sure that your water is one hundred percent safe and healthy. The best part about all of this is that if you ever experience an emergency because of your water supply, you will have someone available to come to your aid.

Alexandria Virginia Water Contaminants

Alexandria, Virginia, is the capital of the state of Virginia. It is often considered as the cultural, political, and economic nerve center of the commonwealth. Founded in 1734 by George Washington, it is one of the busiest cities in the United States of America. It is home to a lot of government buildings and prominent universities. And what makes this place so unique is that, even though it is so big, you will never feel crowded because the vast majority of its population comprises individuals born or raised here. Alexandria indeed has a high cost of living due to the numerous industries and the number of people who work there. Still, you will not find yourself complaining because there are great places to eat.

Alexandria, Virginia, is well known for its safe and clean drinking water. The water from the local city supply is typically contaminated with several contaminants that are usually microscopic. However, there have been cases when these tiny particles can grow to sizes to harm human beings. This is also one reason why regular testing is necessary to ensure that your water is free from any possible harm.

You may be wondering where all the drinking water in this city gets from. Well, the answer is simple. Water is continually pumped from the Rappahannock River in Virginia and the US Eastern Seaboard to the Westwood Mills in Loudoun County. It is then distributed by public supply companies such as Fairfax Power Supply, The Potomac River Authority, and The Chatterbox Foundation. To ensure that Alexandria has clean and healthy drinking water, you need to get your water from a reliable source.

Alexandria Virginia Drinking Water Standards

The first thing you need to know about Alexandria, Virginia, drinking water standards are high. This is because there are so many things that can be done to make the water better for your consumption or simply for your pleasure. For example, you could install a faucet that dispenses pure spring water right from your kitchen faucet and never touch any of the other contaminants found in your tap water. But of course, it would take a long time for such a system to pay for itself, so most people prefer to save money in the short run and purchase a filtration system that kills the chlorine and other chemicals present in your local water supply.

But Alexandria Virginia drinking water standards are nothing compared to what the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe. EPA sets the recommended maximum levels of “safe” for human consumption. Suppose the level of “safeness” is exceeded. In that case, you are putting yourself and your family at risk for severe illness, disability, and premature death. That level of “safeness,” as determined by the EPA, is equivalent to one cup of contaminated bottled water per day. Many home filtration systems on the market will not only remove the chlorine and other chemicals from your water. Still, they will do so simultaneously so that you don’t have to worry about drinking contaminated water.

Alexandria Virginia drinking water standards are higher than the national standard, which is why you should always pay attention to the testing procedures used by the lab that does the testing. Only the highest quality equipment should be used, so look for a company that has been around for a while and is fully accredited by the state. They will provide you with everything you need to decide if your home is worth the investment. In the end, it will be worth all the effort, because you and your family will be much happier when you have great tasting, pure water all the time, instead of the contaminated, acidic water that we are all used to.

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